Edit 2: Additionally, the Sabrina art is not grouped with the Gym Leaders. Notably the index number for Saffron City is 0x0A; the last town programmed into the game after all the others even Pokémon League (0x09), Cinnabar Island (0x08) and Fuchsia City (0x07).

It could be argued Sabrina was not intended to be a Gym Leader, but we have no evidence. Curiously there is also a quiz question in Cinnabar Island that asks "There are 9 certified POKéMON LEAGUE BADGEs?" and there is the old unused key area (because it sets an unused Fly bit) after Saffron City (map 0x0B).

Not only is the pose similar to Giovanni, he also has a badge at the exact same spot. I wonder if its an easter egg or if it's just coincidence.

Maybe even Giovanni's sprite was originally this Trainer's sprite, just modified, and Giovanni's suit hides away what was this Trainer's arms, shirt, shorts and shoes but that's just my speculation. Their shoulders and the design of the shirt/suit look quite similar too.

Awesome find! I always enjoy reading about the development of Pokemon games and finding obscureinformation like this. Perhaps this trainer was intended to be the first gym leader but then had the conceptreworked into Giovanni hence the same pose and style

Awesome find! I always enjoy reading about the development of Pokemon games and finding obscureinformation like this. Perhaps this trainer was intended to be the first gym leader but then had the conceptreworked into Giovanni hence the same pose and style

Thanks! Same. It was always a little weird the first gym was locked until near the end of the game in retrospect.